This poll is an eye opener. It shows that people drop their opposition to death penalty abolition if given options.

We've seen over the years that opposition drops off with the option of life without possibility of parole. Now in the North Carolina poll, other options are put out there, like taking the money saved after replacing the death penalty and putting it toward crime fighting or solving crimes.

Look at the cross tabs. The question about restitution got majority support from those who self-identified as "somewhat conservative." And even among those who identified as "very conservative," the idea got more supporters than opponents.

It's all in how you put the question out there. Conservatives' support for the death penalty is not unshakable.